Matthew 11:1-8 Fr

Matthew 11:1-8 Fr. Andrew's bible study notes for Matthew 11:1-8. Matthew CHAPTER 11:1-8 (The Orthodox New Testament Translation, Holy Apostles Convent, CO) 1And it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, He passed over from that place to teach and preach in their cities. Theophylact: Jesus is only teaching and preaching not healing in order to allow the people to come to His disciples for healings. 2Now after John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3and said to Him, “Are You the coming One, or do we look for another?” John knew that Jesus was the Christ – “Behold the Lamb of God (John 1:29)” St. Hilary of Poitiers: “In this manner John remedied not his own but his disciples’ ignorance. So that his disciples might learn that he had preached none other than Christ, he sent them to Him that they may behold His works; and he sent them that they might look for no other Christ.” [On the Gospel of St. Matthew, 2, P.L. 9, 978, in Toal, I:35.] Saint Chrysostom: “John’s disciples imagined Jesus to be a mere man....They were vexed at seeing Jesus held in estimation, but John, even as he had said, now ceasing. This hindered them from coming to Jesus; their jealousy quite dividing them and throwing up a wall. John continually besought and taught them, but did not persuade them. Now he is about to die, and uses the more diligence, fearing as he did lest he might leave a foundation for evil doctrine, and they continue broken off from the Christ.” [Hom. 36, P.G. 57:408 (col. 414).] “The coming One” or “The One coming” (oJ jErcovmeno~)—a phrase for the Messiah. The preaching of Christ even in hades Saint Gregory the Great: “He (John) inquires if He is to come, not because he doubts that He is the Redeemer of the world, but he seeks to learn whether He Who, of His own will, came into the world, will also, of His own will, descend into Hades? He who, by going before Him, had announced Him to the world, the same, now dying, goes down before Him into Hades. It is as if to say: since for men You have deigned to be born, will You also deign for men to undergo death so that I who have been the Forerunner of Your birth, may also become the Forerunner of Your death, to announce You as about to descend into Hades, as already I have announced You as having come into the world.” [“Sermon in the Basilica of SS. Marcellinus and Peter on the Gospel,” P.L.76 (cols. 1095- 1099), in Toal, I:46; Hom. 5, Forty Gospel Homilies, 29; cf. Hom. 6, P.L. 76 (col. 1095).] Hymn of St. John the Baptist The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s witness is sufficient for you, O Forerunner. You were shown in truth to be the most honorable of the prophets, for you were deemed worthy to baptize in water, Him who was proclaimed. Therefore, having suffered for the truth with joy, you proclaimed to those in hell God who appeared in the flesh, who takes away the sin of the world, and grants us the great mercy. 4And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you are hearing and seeing: 5“the blind are recovering their sight and the lame are walking; the lepers are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing; the dead are being raised and the poor are being preached the Gospel. The Prophetic Signs Identifying the Messiah & True Disciples ▪ The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised 7“And as ye go, be preaching, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens hath drawn near.’ 8“Be healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, casting out demons; freely ye received, freely give. [Mt. 10:7,8] ▪ The poor are being preached the gospel – Theophylact: - means either the disciples who were poor fisherman and despised as common lowly people or those listening to the Gospel and hearing of the eternal good things. 6“And happy is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” Saint Hilary of Poitiers: “The scandal of the Cross is foretold, because His Cross would become a stumbling block to many [1 Cor. 1:23]. Thus He now declares that they are blessed to whom His Cross, His death, and burial, will offer no trial of faith.” [On the Gospel of St. Matthew, 3, P.L. 9, 978, in Toal, I:36.] Saint Chrysostom: “Happy is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me” (makavriov~ ejstin, o}~ eja;n mh; skandalisqh`/ ejn jEmoiv). He hints that He knows even their unuttered thoughts (Of John’s disciples)....But He leaves them to learn from the miracles,...though He covertly added this reproof of them without openly making known their doubt, leaving it within their own hearts, He cures them.” [Ib., P.G. 57:409 (col. 415).] 7And as these went their way, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, “What went you out into the wilderness to behold? A reed being shaken by the wind? Jesus says this to assure them that John did not question who He was Theophylact: “Perhaps the multitude heard John’s question and were scandalized that even John himself might be unsure of Christ…John is not a reed, that is, a changeable man, but you went out to see a great and steadfast man.” 8“But what went you out to see? A man who has been clothed in soft garments? Behold, those wearing soft garments are in the houses of kings. Theophylact: “…He says, This cannot be, that his clothing is made of hair shows that He is an enemy of luxury. ‘And John himself was having his raiment of camel hairs [Mt. 3:4].’” Lit., “John himself was in the habit of having (ei\cen) his garment made from camel hairs.” Note eichen, imperfect tense, his habit of wearing. See endnote for Mk. 1:6a. Saint Chrysostom: “For this reason his outer garment was of hair, in order that by his form he might instruct the people to leave human things, and to have nothing in common with the earth, but to hasten back to their earlier nobility, wherein Adam was before he wanted garments and coverings. Thus that dress bore the tokens of a kingdom and repentance.” [Hom. 10, P.G. 57:144 (col. 188).] Matthew 11:9-15 Fr. Andrew's Bible Study notes for Matthew 11:9-15 Matthew CHAPTER 11:9-15 (The Orthodox New Testament Translation, Holy Apostles Convent, CO) 9“But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. 10“For this is he about whom it hath been written: ‘Behold, I send forth My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You. (Micah 3:1)’ More than a Prophet 1. In the Orthodox Church the placement of the icon of St John is always on the right of right (or on his left) of Christ on the icon screen. a.) He is chosen as the final Prophet who would point with his finger that this One is the Messiah to come – “Behold the Lamb of God (John 1:29).” b.) He leaped in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary arrived pregnant c.) He was the one chosen to baptize Christ in the Jordan d.) He fulfills this prophecy of Micah St. John the Messenger – Angel – Herald (in some depictions he was wings, in domes he is included in the realm of angels) Saint Gregory: “That which is called angelos in Greek is in Latin messenger. Fittingly is he called angel, who is sent to announce the heavenly Judge, so that he may be in name that which he fulfills in his office. Exalted indeed is his name, but his life was no less exalted than his name.” [“Sermon in the Basilica of SS. Marcellinus and Peter on the Gospel,” P.L.76 (cols. 1095-1099), in Toal, I:48.] Theophylact: “Christ says these things after John’s disciples had left so that He would not appear to be flattering him.” 11“Verily I say to you, there has not arisen among those born of women a greater than John the Baptist; Theophylact: “…by saying ‘born of a women’ He excludes Himself, for Christ was born of a virgin, not of a women (In Greek, the use of the word ‘women’ implies someone married, a wife), that is, one who is married.” but the least (He that is younger, referring to Christ) in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he. 1. One interpretation – any baptized believer in heaven (elected, chosen) who enters the Kingdom after the death and resurrection of Christ is greater than John who still alive and in the battle but after death comes the victory. Most New Testament translations follow this interpretation. 2. Another interpretation is based upon an alternate meaning of the word, “mikroteros” which can mean “younger.” In other words, that Christ is referring to Himself who is younger than John is greater than he is. Origen: “The Kingdom of heaven is Jesus Christ Himself, who exhorts all people to repentanvce and draws them to Himself by love.” 12“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is being taken by force, and the forceful seize it.

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